Page 100 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

I looked around at the ranch I’d come to love so much, wondering if my coming here was the worst thing that had ever happened to it.

Booker had told me that the ranch would continue on as it was without the investors. But he needed them to expand. To build the cottages and hire more staff for people to be able to come here and figure out their problems in the peaceful fields of horses. The rentals and the extras Booker planned to offer to the people who came here were enough to not only pay for the staff but also to expand the number of horses he could help.

And all of that had ground to a halt now.

I’d been going over the figures for days now, trying to find a solution, but I just couldn’t see one. Not an immediate one, at least.

Booker came out of the house, heading to the folding tables by the grill with platters of meat.

“I can’t remember the last time we had a proper cookout here,” he told me. As he put the plates down, he looked around and sighed. “This is something we need to do more.”

“Why do you look so happy?” I asked in exasperation, the guilt over everything that had happened finally getting to me.

His eyebrow ticked up in question before he strode across to me and wrapped his arms around me. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

I turned my head to lean against his chest as I stared out at the empty fields. “Did I ruin this?”

His laughter wasn’t exactly the empathetic response I’d expected, and I looked up at him in shock.

“Oh, right. You’re not joking,” he said, looking sheepish. “Reece, I wish you could have seen this place before you turned up. It was…really depressing,” he admitted, shaking his head.

“Yeah, you should have seen him sulking all over the place,” Xander called out, carrying two bowls of salads out to the table. “It’s the only reason I stayed away. Couldn’t take him pouting and that weird growl he did.” Xander shuddered dramatically as Booker rolled his eyes at his brother.

Before he could say anything, we heard Blake call out, “Booky bear!” in that sing-song way he hated so much.

Strangely, it was Xander who did an about-turn and tried to make a run for it back to the house. Booker chuckled, and I realized there was something else I’d missed.

Cade came charging around the corner giggling as Blake chased him, Delaney and Trace strolling behind them, looking as happy as always.

“Can we go on the quads?” Cade shouted, doing a lap of the tables as he did. “I told Blake I can totally smoke her in a race!”

“Please. If anyone is going to smoke Blake in a race, it’s going to be me,” Delaney scoffed, and Cade ground to a sudden stop, his mouth hanging open in shock.

“You can ride a quad?” he asked, impressed.

“Your mom was the first one brave enough to launch one off the hill out by the pond,” Trace said all misty eyed and then seemed to realize what he said and winced as Delaney pinched his side.

“Coooool.” Cade fist-pumped the air and then ran to the barn, whistling for Val, who charged after him.

“I’m exhausted. It’s your turn,” Delaney told Blake, sinking into one of the chairs and pushing her with one foot.

Most people would have at least argued a little, but Blake looked like all her dreams had come true as she skipped after the kid who seemed to be her best friend.

“It’s like you have two kids,” Xander muttered.

He was too busy watching Blake skip away to catch the look that Trace gave Delaney.

“Oh my goodness,” I rushed out.

Delaney grinned and then put a finger against her lips, and I snapped my mouth closed before I said anything else.

“What? What just happened?” Xander said, looking around.

“I just realized that we’re missing the garlic bread. Can you check it’s not burning for me, please?”

Xander huffed out a sigh of exasperation and then turned around and reluctantly headed back to the house. He wouldn’t be impressed when he got into the kitchen and realized I hadn’t even put it in the oven yet.

“So tell us the big news,” Trace said, quickly changing the subject in possibly the worst way he could.

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